Banana Definition Banana Definition 1

Banana (noun) — A long, curved fruit with yellow skin and soft, sweet flesh, typically eaten raw or used in baking and smoothies.

A tropical plant of the genus Musa, cultivated for its fruit.

Part of speech:
Noun (countable)
Phonetic transcription (IPA):
/bəˈnɑː.nə/
CEFR level:
A1
Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Banana”?

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Tips for banana pronunciation: 

The stress is on the second syllable: /bə-ˈnɑː-nə/. Say it like: buh-NAH-nuh.

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Examples: How to Use “Banana” in a Sentence?

Bananas pop up everywhere, from breakfast bowls to bakery shelves:

I eat a banana every morning, can’t start the day without one!

The banana is ripe and sweet, just perfect.

He peeled a banana for the baby with care.

They baked banana bread that smelled perfect.

She bought a bunch of bananas last week.

What are Synonyms for the Word “Banana”?

Bananas are pretty one-of-a-kind, so no exact synonyms here. But you might come across these in the same fruit bowl:

Related nouns: fruit snack tropical fruit

Synonyms (contextual): none (banana is a specific noun)

Common collocations: ripe banana banana bread banana smoothie banana treebunch of bananas

“Banana” Word Formation and Description in Context

The classic banana description covers its sweetness and yellow hue, but in English, bananas do a lot more than sit in a fruit bowl.

With adjectives: ripe banana yellow banana sweet banana overripe banana

With verbs: eat a banana peel a banana slice a banana buy/sell bananas

With nouns (noun + noun): banana peel banana bread banana smoothie banana chips banana tree

Idioms and Phrases with “Banana”

Banana in idioms often signals informality and is used to describe situations that are out of control.

  • Go bananas — to become very excited or crazy.

      The crowd went bananas when their team scored the winning goal.

  • Slip on a banana peel —to make a silly or embarrassing mistake.

      He really slipped on a banana peel during the presentation — forgot his own name!

  • Top banana — the boss or the most important person.

      After years of hard work, she finally became the top banana at the company.

Test Your Knowledge of Banana Meaning – Quiz Time!

Let’s peel back your banana skills with some quick questions:

Type 1: True/false statements:
Select True or False:
1
Bananas grow on trees.
2
Bananas are always eaten raw.
3
The inside of a banana is called the “flesh.”
Type 2: Right word order:
Rearrange the words to make a correct sentence:
1
every
banana
a
eats
She
day
2
peel
banana
he
the
quickly
3
banana
used
they
the
cake
in
Type 3: Choose the correct option
Choose the one closest in meaning to the “banana” word in context:
1
She added a banana to her smoothie. What does “banana” mean here?
2
He slipped on a banana peel outside the store. What is “banana peel”?
3
The bananas on the counter were finally ripe. What does “ripe” mean?

Enjoy personalized learning!

“Banana” Word in Other Languages

Look and listen to “banana” in different languages:

Language Word for “Banana”
Flag Spanish Spanish   Plátano / Banana
Flag French French   Banane
Flag German German   Banane

Did You Know It? Fun Facts About “Banana”

Bananas have layers, and not just the peel kind:

  • Bananas are technically berries.

    They’re naturally radioactive (thanks to potassium-40), but don’t worry, it’s totally safe.

  • There are over 1,000 banana varieties.

    Yes, there are many types of bananas exist worldwide, but Cavendish is the superstar you usually see in stores.

  • Bananas can help boost your mood.

    Feeling blue? Bananas have tryptophan, which helps your brain make serotonin (a happy chemical).

  • The inside of a banana peel can shine shoes.

    The inside of a banana peel can even shine your shoes if you’re in a pinch. Who knew?

Famous Quotes Featuring “Banana”

Bananas inspire some pretty witty thoughts:

“Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.”

— Groucho Marx

Explanation: A hilarious wordplay that tickles your brain.

“Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana.”

— Bill Gates

Explanation:  A clever way to say some ideas get old fast.

“Life is full of banana skins. You slip, you carry on.”

— Daphne Guinness

Explanation: A reminder to keep going despite the little slip-ups.